Review of Malcolm (1986) by John K — 22 Mar 2011

Malcolm works for the Melbourne tramway company. One night while every one leaves, he rides around on his own tram that he built himself leading him to get fired. He lives alone with his cockatoo named Arnold. He knows an old woman, Mrs. T, who works at a small store and she gives him milk on his remote control car, but one day she doesn't give him any. He marches to the store. Since he's unemployed and has very little money, she can't give him any milk. She suggests that he rents out a room that way he can get money.

One day, a sloppy criminal named Frank shows up and gets the room. He's a bit baffled and on edge. He's unsure about Malcolm at first, but Malcolm slowly becomes aware that he's harboring a criminal and he doesn't seem to mind. Frank's main sheila (this is an Aussie picture) Judith shows up next to stay as well. Malcolm is very shy around her especially when she wears loose clothing.

The three begin a partner ship which forms slowly. Judith tries to work at a bar while Frank tries to steal televisions. Malcolm invents! He even has a contraption where his own mailbox is remote controlled. That way when he gets the mail it can come to him instead of him coming to it. He is a genius or more of a master of remote controlled things. He even makes a get away car for Frank that can split in two independently powered halves. It's a pretty fun scene to watch, but what out rivals it is the ashtray sequence.

Three remote controlled ashtray's are placed in the bank for which they plan to rob. They control them to get into an elevator and once they've set them in the spot they begin their attack. Gas bombs, a gun that shoots and even a hammer to smash out a window to drop the money bags into their van as they make their unforgettable getaway.

The film is basically simple. The criminal rents out a room of whom the owner happens to be an inventor of things and before you know it the criminal and the inventor join forces to rob a bank and indeed get away with it. It's a great film with an excellent soundtrack from the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I can still hear the music in my head. Really fun.